NORTH BAY – Liberal plans to add more solar power to Ontario’s power grid will only add to the hydro bills of Ontario families and businesses, PC Energy Critic and Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said today.
The Energy Minister plans to start accepting applications to put another 200 megawatts of Ontario’s most expensive energy onto the grid (
London Free Press, Nov. 29, 2012).
“The Rolls Royce pricing of 20-year solar contracts will only increase the cost of electricity for Ontarians,” said Fedeli, who continues to call for an end to the Feed-In-Tariff (FIT) program, which pays out expensive subsidies to wind and solar developers.
“Increasing the cost of power further for Ontario families and businesses already struggling with their bills does nothing to help get the 600,000 Ontario men and women who woke up without a job this morning back to work.”
The government’s own 2010 Fall Economic Statement predicted hydro rates would rise 46% by 2015, with more than half of that increase due to subsidized renewable generation coming on line.
“Despite the fact Ontario will soon have the highest electricity prices in North America, the Liberal government continues to push ahead with its zealous energy agenda,” said Fedeli.
“This government continues to careen in the wrong direction on energy policy.”
Fedeli pointed to the Ontario PC Paths to Prosperity Energy White Paper, which outlines 13 paths to help the return affordable energy – and thus, job creation and economic growth – to the province.
“The Ontario PC party believes that affordable energy is the cornerstone of economic growth, and will treat it as such.”
